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First new UK dental school in almost 40 years opens

A brand new dental school and hospital has opened in the East End of London. The Royal London Dental Hospital, a project costing an estimated £78 million, is the first of its kind to be constructed in the UK for almost 40 years.

The hospital houses Queen Mary University of London’s (QMUL) new dental school, which comes outfitted with state-of-the-art equipment and the most technologically advanced facilities for dentistry in the UK. Around 400 students will train at the Royal London Dental Hospital every year.

Dr Philip Taylor, clinical director for dentistry for QMUL and Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “Procedures such as oral rehabilitation and facial reconstruction are complex and it’s crucial for us to continue training new dentists with the most up-to-date technology and techniques to ensure our patients get the best care now and into the future.

“We hope the opening of the new dental school will soon pave the way for us to expand our educational offering for the next generation of dentists.” QMUL has been ranked as the top dental school in the UK, and the new facilities will help it solidify its reputation.

The technology available in the Royal London Dental Hospital includes cutting-edge facial scanning equipment and digital imaging technology, 32 operating microscopes and 72 technologically advanced patient simulation centres to aid with the teaching of new students.

A large amount of space is available for dentists and patients alike, with 111 dental operatories with hi-tech digital operation and lighting and 22 self-contained rooms for complex consultations and treatments.

In addition to the dental school, the hospital is poised to be able to provide much-needed oral healthcare to an area of the country with a very poor record at the moment. Tower Hamlets is the worst London borough for child tooth decay, with almost half (46 per cent) of all five-year-old children suffering from the disease.

Professor Mike Curtis, dean for dentistry at QMUL, said the local community around the new hospital faces some of the “most challenging health needs” in the UK, and the Royal London Dental Hospital would be a significant help to those living nearby.